Donkeys Flashcards by Josie Campbell

How many donkeys are there in the UK?

Estimated 10-20,000

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Average HR of donkey

36-52 bpm

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RR of donkeys

12-28 bpm

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Temperature of donkeys

36.5-37.8 degrees

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Anatomical differences of donkeys

Adapted for desert life
- big ears
- cope better with dehydration

Cutaneous coli well developed to support the larger head of the donkey
- obscures middle 1/3 of jugular vein so need to inject higher or lower

Pectoral muscle is very small so never inject into it

Tear duct location much higher and protected by fold to prevent dust trapping

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Size differences in donkeys

Miniature ~90-120kg

Standard ~160-200kg

Poitou/Mammoth ~400-500kg

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Dietary requirements of donkeys

Need less than ponies of similar size

75% of diet should be barley straw in winter, 50% in summer

Rest of diet made up of grass and/or hay

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Foot anatomy of donkeys

Extensor process of P3 is 1-1.3cm distal to the coronary band
○ Marker very useful to assess founder distance

Thick sole - 1cm+
○ Less sensitive to hoof testers

Frog does not extend as far forward
○ Frog support and heart bar shoes exacerbate rotational forces - not advisable
○Pads +/- glue shoes better

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Behaviour of donkeys

Small closely bonded groups

Find it extremely stressful to be separated from their companion

often labelled as stubborn or difficult

very stoic and will hide pain and fear to the extreme

freeze or fight responses when scared or put under pressure

A dull/not eating donkey is a clinical emergency !!

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What is sham eating?

When a donkey pretends to eat to avoid attention from predators

Will often find if you leave them with food and come back they won’t have eaten it

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Oestrus behaviour of donkeys

Mounting

Herding

Chasing other females

Mouth clapping

Winking (repeated clitoral exposure)

Raising tail

Urinating posture

Standing to be mounted

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Are donkeys seasonal breeders?

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Gestation length for donkeys

somewhat a guideline, can vary from 11-14 months

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Sedation of donkeys

Sedation doses same as horses, often higher in mules.

IM sedation quick onset, very useful in needle shy donkeys.

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NSAID metabolism in donkeys

Phenylbutazone - metabolised faster in donkeys

Carprofen - metabolised slower

Flunixin

Meloxicam - not advised as very short half life

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Common donkey conditions

Obesity
- hyperlipidaemia
- Asinine Metabolic syndrome (AMS)
- Laminitis

Colic

Colitis

Streptococcus zooepidemicus

Laminitis

White line abscess

Sarcoids

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Hyperlipidaemia in donkeys

trigs >2.8mmol L (higher than in horses)

occurs when the donkey enters a NEBAL

donkey will mobilise fat reserves and send them to the liver for processing

when too much fat enters the liver for processing, it overwhelms the liver and triglycerides enter the peripheral metabolism faster than they can be used

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Risk factors for hyperlipidaemia

Donkeys and small pony breeds

Obesity

Weight loss

Pregnancy/lactation
§ Or just being female

Increasing age (dental health, underlying conditions, illness)

Underlying primary disease (e.g. colic, liver disease)

Stress

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Clinical signs of hyperlipidaemia

Dullness, lethargy, inappetence
Tachycardia/Tachypnoea/Pyrexia

Ileus/ abdominal discomfort

Congested membrane mucous, delayed CRT

Dry mucous covered faeces/dry faecal balls

Cloudy to milky serum/plasma

Halitosis

Muzzle and head oedema

Ataxia or neuro signs
§ Hepatic encephalopathy

Recumbency

Death due to multiorgan failure

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Serum/plasma in hyperlipidaemia in donkeys

cloudier than horses generally, can measure at lab or on hand help meter.

Less likely to form the lard with plastic tube but can see it.

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Treatment of hyperlipidaemia in donkeys

adapt to patient, a very stressed patient that is voluntarily eating may benefit more from being fed than tubed – ensure actually eating.

Via pony or foal sized nasogastric tube - for an average 180kg ish donkey
□ 2-3L warm water (1L/75kg bw)
□ Rehydration salts (e.g. Effydral/Lectade)
□ 120g glucose powder
□ 250-500g Ready brek

Any other oral meds can be added in

If more severe add in IV fluids

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Presentation of colic in donkeys

Quiet/dull

No interest in food

Remember stoic. If dramatic, be concerned! May pretend to be fine when you get there, consider pain scoring

What is the most common cause of colic in donkeys?

Pelvic flexure impaction

Presentation of colitis in donkeys

Dull, can display colic signs, pyrexia, hypoproteinaemia

often nothing obvious on rectal, or potentially thickening/general pain.

Hypoproteinaemia, inflammatory leukogram, SAA increased – liver may be compromised, hyperlipaemia may occur

Rarely have diarrhoea (unlike horses)

Scan often thickening on abdo fluid, can check lactate in blood/ periotoneal tap.

Possible causes of colitis in donkeys

Stress, diet change, gut dysbiosis, toxin ingestion, endoparasitism

Treatment of colitis in donkeys

Analgesia - flunixin, paracetamol, consider lidocaine/opioids – pain will cause ileus! - Steroids can be useful but use carefully as steroids contraindicated in hyperlipaemic patients. Antibiotics - pen, gent, +/- metronidazole – role of ABX debatable in colitis horses, Hyperlipaemic or anorexic patients more likely to get glandular ulcers IM omeprazole 4mg/kg q5-7 days Prognosis often guarded – consider QOL

Streptococcus zooepidemicus in donkeys

Similar to Strangles (S. equi) Most isolated respiratory pathogen of donkeys Often secondary to Equine Herpes Virus infection Usually is self limiting Low mortality rate Commensal, but some pathogenic forms seen in donkeys

Clinical signs of Strep zooepidemicus in donkeys

Mucopurulent nasal discharge -unilateral or bilateral Can rarely cause chondroids in guttural pouch May be BAR, may be under the weather

Differentials for respiratory disease in donkeys

Strep zooepidemicus EHV Strangles Asinine Herpes virus Asthma Recent streoid treatment

Treatment od Strep zooepidemicus in donkeys

Usually self resolving May need NSAIDs and TLC

Clinical signs of laminitis in donkeys

Can present standing still, weight shifting or lying down Often not noted until much later – non working and stoic Rare to see classic laminitic stance, often seen as uni or bilateral lameness (mild to moderate), refusal to move/weight shifting/ recumbency (check for colic). Strong DP present, hot feet, unable to weight bear.

Diagnostics for laminitis in donkeys

Radiographs – lateromedials with markers ACTH - test for PPID (wait until acute pain has reduced) Insulin - Asinine Metabolic Syndrome - delay

Management of laminitis in donkeys

low sugar diet, restrictive grazing (never starve), foot support pads, deep bedding, analgesia, ice feet

White line abscesses in donkeys -incidence

Common in donkeys in UK Soft, permeable hooves absorb moisture

White line abscesses in donkeys - predispositions

poor hoof care, poor hoof quality, malnutrition vitamin restricted diets

Treatment of white line abscesses in donkeys

Trim regularly - spray with iodine Can resect more foot than in horse, stop when get to blood but often have to dig scarily deep!

Incidence of sarcoids in donkeys

Common

Location of sarcoids in donkeys

Often genital region, ventral abdomen, face/lips, eyes

Treatment of sarcoids in donkeys

Same as in horses - laser resection - topical creams - injections

Behaviour of sarcoids in donkeys

Can be aggressive, grow rapidly, and become infected

IV catheter placement in donkeys

Thicker skin than horses ○ Cutaneous coli muscle Ensure good restraint +/- sedation. ○ Lift head and extend neck Clip and clean Lidocaine “bleb” or EMLA cream (needs 20+ min contact time) Carefully cut down skin with scalpel Stitch in place

Donkey castration age

Ideally castrate colts at 6-18 months

Donkey castration method

Always castrate closed due to larger reproductive organs and blood vessels – inject local into the cord General anaesthesia – field or theatre ○ Colts <2 years old – scrotal approach ○ Stallions >2 years old – inguinal approach (in theatre) Blood vessels must be ligated! ○ Crush for 3 minutes ○ 5-metric vicryl

Possible complications of castration in donkeys

Infection § Skin edges or cord § Swab for bacteriology § Scirrhous cord requires repeat GA Haemorrhage Evisceration No technique will eliminate risk

Pre-med in donkeys - theatre protocol

ACP IM Detomidine IV Butorphanol IV Morphine

Pre-med in donkeys- field protocol

ACP IM/slow IV (may not need) Detomidine IV Butorohanol IV

Induction of donkeys - theatre protocol

Ketamine IV Diazepam IV

Induction of donkeys - field protocol

Ketamine IV Diazepam IV

Maintenace of anaesthesia in donkeys - theatre protocol

Isoflurane 2-3% Ketamine top-up 1/3 induction dose if needed

Maintenace of anaesthesia in donkeys - field protocol

Top ups 10mins (timed) 1/3 induction dose of ketamine 1/2 induction dose detomidine 30 mins Or triple drip GKX

Triple drip anaesthesia combo for donkeys

Myolaxin (guafenesin) Saline Xylazine Ketamine

Mule

Male donkey x female horse

Hinny

Female donkey x male horse